Jesus summed up the moral fabric of Creation by quoting two passages from Moses:
Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18). All the laws and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NET Bible
Jesus was hardly the first rabbi to say such a thing. It was commonly understood this way, even when it was misunderstood how to carry it out. It really does rest on your shoulders to love God sincerely, a full commitment without reservation. That’s the meaning behind or English word “faith.” While I may exhibit some limited talent for discussing my own faith, you can’t ever have mine. It has to be uniquely yours.
In the process, you are surely going to come up with your own unique love for your neighbor. As noted previously, the word “neighbor” carries a different connotation than what it means in English. It’s not simply someone residing in close proximity. In the Ancient Hebrew culture it would have meant mostly your own kin, your cousins and such. However, it means anyone who operates according to the wider implications of the Covenant. So when Gentiles act in ways Moses was hoping to see, they are lawful and just in God’s eyes, regardless of what they may or may not know about the writings of Moses. Jesus makes that point with the Parable of Good Samaritan. The priest and Levite were not the victim’s neighbors in that story, because they adhered to the literal words of the Covenant, and violated it’s mystical principles.
Another popular wording is the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” That does not mean you can demand others do to you as you want. You have no reason to expect someone will treat you as you treat them, but that you are obliged to do what you know is right regardless of how they treat you.
With strangers, I’m often reticent. Civility says you don’t blurt out every thought crossing your mind. However, I’m more likely to be blunt and honest if it seems the conversation goes that way. I would rather people do that to me, even as I know most people don’t like it. Under God’s justice, I have no obligation to meet their expectations, but to hold forth my expectations applied to myself. If they can’t take my bluntness, they can fuss with God, but I refuse attempts to moderate my verbal behavior. This is what I want you to do for me, so it’s what I’ll do for you.
Don’t buy into false guilt about what society expects of you. The Law of God is not the complex, conflicting demands of others. The Law of God is what He demands of you. When you claim to embrace biblical justice, and you want to see the promises of the Laws poured out into your life, don’t get entangled in making others happy. That’s actually a violation of God’s justice. You are responsible to Him, not those you encounter here below. If you have a thick skin, wear it well. Whatever you do, don’t fuss at someone who has to serve God in a different way. Feel free to explain your choices, but don’t ever let anyone hand you any false guilt.
This is the hardest part of teaching God’s Word.
